09/07/2010

New Maryland AD Anderson hopeful for more football games with Navy

New Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson considers his counterpart at Navy Chet Gladchuk a friend after sharing plenty of conversations while working at Army.

He's optimistic that friendship can help extend the frequency of the football meetings between Maryland and Navy.

The schools have met just twice since 1965 --- a 23-20 Maryland victory in 2005, and yesterday's 17-14 Terrapins win. Both games were played in Baltimore.

The teams are not scheduled to play again, and both schools' football schedules are completely booked through 2013.

Still, Anderson is open to the idea of making it a more regular game --- perhaps even an annual event.

"I hope so," Anderson said. "I think he's willing to do it. Part of what Chet's going to want to do is look at how this impacts him economically and if it makes good sense for him to pursue the series. I know he knows it's good for the state of Maryland and for the region. It's a matter now if he has the available slots on his schedule. I think the other thing is where does it effect his economic model."

As Anderson well knows, making the most of football is crucial to the revenue stream of any independent, and perhaps even moreso for a service academy.

Nonetheless, after an announced crowd of nearly 70,000 attended yesterday's game --- the first Maryland game since Anderson agreed to become the Terps' athletic director --- there might not be a better time to push for more dates between the schools than now.

Of course, it helps that Maryland handed Anderson some bragging rights as he winds down his time at West Point --- as he pointed out to an audience that included football coach Ralph Friedgen.

"My first impression?" Anderson said. "When I walked out on that field and saw all that red out there, it was wonderful. First game of the season, being my first game here, and everybody was excited. At the end, coach, I think there was a little too much excitement because I can't take that --- my heart's not there. It was a great game for the Terps and it was a great game period. Now I can go back to West Point with my head up high and say that I beat Navy."